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Domestic abuse services across Glasgow are having to undergo a “radical redesign" in the most difficult of circumstances to support women and children during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisations like Women’s Aid are scrambling to respond to the challenges created by the government imposed lockdown which is leaving victims isolated and vulnerable.

A lifeline grant from the Scottish Government has given the charity flexibility to change how they are helping service users while they are urged to stay home.

As well as juggling staff shortages due to the illness, Women's Aid are expanding their resources, making sure things like online chat is available and that women’s refuges have sufficient broadband access.

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With refuges having to change from multiple occupancy to single occupancy to meet social distancing guidance, funding will have to be used to cover losses in income to ensure the services stay open but it will ultimately mean a reduction in the number of refuge spaces available.

For children who are unable to go to school or after school clubs which is often the only safe space they have, staff are creating online one-to-one support and group work.

“One of the really challenging aspects of this pandemic is that we don’t even know what we’re going to need in a couple of weeks”, explains Dr Marsha Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Scotland Women’s Aid.

“We’re especially concerned about the children and women currently living with their abusers who are now finding themselves in situations where abusers have even more control over where they go, who they see and who they talk to. We think that is definitely a danger in this lockdown and we all need to find a way to respond to it.

“Another concern is for the women and children experiencing domestic abuse who don’t live with their abusers, but their abusers now know where they are 24/7. We tend to forget that the majority of women and children experiencing domestic abuse don’t even live with their partners anymore.

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“The challenge and drain on our local services is to provide the support that all these women and children need in the context of the lockdown.

“What women that are experiencing domestic abuse during the lockdown is the same thing that women are doing everywhere right now. They’re making sure they have toilet paper and they’re making sure there’s food on the table; they’re trying to figure out what to do with the kids that are no longer going to school and nursery; they’re possibly caring for a sick relative or loved one and they might be ill themselves. Reaching out to call the police or call our services is likely to be lower on the list.”

With the help of the £1.35m grant, all of Women’s Aid services are now looking at how best to adapt to protect women and children.

The vast majority of the money will go back out to the 36 local services who are still providing support to women in various circumstances, as well as the national helpline.

Work to set operations up remotely is also being undertaken, with email and web support particularly important for women and children who are worried about being overheard. Statistics from over Christmas showed that victims are more likely to use web chat when their abusers are home more often.

Dr Scott adds: “In terms of the funding, I first of all have to say that the Scottish Government has responded unbelievably quickly. It's the only government in the UK that has responded to us in this manner and this quickly.

"The best and efficient way to respond is to allow the experts at the coal face, meaning our service providers and police who are problem solving as we go, the flexibility to use resources where they’re most needed.

“I’m not always saying praise-worthy things about the government and our partners in the public sector but in this circumstance, I'm really impressed and I think they deserve our gratitude.

“Domestic abuse isn’t an incident, it's a 24/7 regime of control and coercion that sometimes includes physical violence. Women and children living with that are managing that and have been for a long time, and they will find a way to reach out for help and support so our biggest task is to make sure that that continues to be available rapidly and whatever shape or form that women and children need.”

The funding for Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland was announced by Nicola Sturgeon at her daily coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh.

Speaking directly to those who might be affected, the First Minister said: “Help is available now and you should not hesitate to come forward and get it.”

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf echoed the sentiment, telling women and children experiencing domestic abuse in the home that “they are not alone”.

He added: “Anyone experiencing violence, including coercive and controlling behaviours, should not feel in any way inhibited by the current coronavirus outbreak to report a crime against them.

“These are enormously difficult times, but the safety of women and child victims who experience abuse in the home is paramount – the message to stay at home does not mean that they should not seek urgent help, advice or support.”

The Lord Advocate has confirmed that domestic abuse cases will continue to be prosecuted vigorously and fairly during the pandemic, which has struck a year after the introduction of of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

The act decriminalised coercive and controlling behaviour towards a partner or ex-partner and enabled prosecution to proceed on a charge of a course of abusive behaviour which can include physical, sexual, verbal, financial and psychological abuse.

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Despite praising the efforts made by the government to protect victims, Dr Scott believes that local authorities need to go further to help women and children right now.

Women’s Aid is calling for Scotland to “step up to the plate” to create a housing path for perpetrators.

Dr Scott added: “The thing that will make the biggest difference to women and children who are living with their abuser is that local authorities and housing associations can work very quickly to move perpetrators out of the family home - rather than expecting the women and children to move.

“There’s been quite a bit of reluctance across Scotland to use this model even though there is little evidence that it is legally problematic, and we know that there are some local authorities that have been bold and brave and started doing this but it is now time for everyone to step up to the plate.

“If you can imagine how much easier it is to move another person. Why is it for decades that Scotland thought it was ok to re-traumatise women and children experiencing domestic abuse by making them homeless?”

The Scottish Government has provided an additional £825,000 to Police Scotland to support the training of officers and frontline staff to respond to and investigate the new domestic abuse offence.